Proverbs 12
New American Standard Bible 1995
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
12 Whoever loves [a]discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid.
2 A (A)good man will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a man [b]who devises evil.
3 A man will (B)not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the (C)righteous will not be moved.
4 An [c](D)excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like (E)rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The (F)words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
But the (G)mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 The (H)wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the (I)house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse [d]mind will be despised.
9 Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant
Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A (J)righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 He (K)who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks [e]sense.
12 The (L)wicked man desires the [f]booty of evil men,
But the root of the righteous (M)yields fruit.
13 [g]An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the (N)righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A man will be (O)satisfied with good by the fruit of his [h]words,
And the (P)deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.
15 The (Q)way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16 A (R)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
17 He who [i]speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (S)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (T)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a (U)lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 (V)No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 (W)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A (X)prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the [j]slack hand will be (Y)put to forced labor.
25 (Z)Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a (AA)good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 A [k]lazy man does not [l]roast his prey,
But the (AB)precious possession of a man is diligence.
28 (AC)In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:1 Or instruction
- Proverbs 12:2 Lit of evil devices
- Proverbs 12:4 Or virtuous
- Proverbs 12:8 Lit heart
- Proverbs 12:11 Lit heart
- Proverbs 12:12 Lit net
- Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare
- Proverbs 12:14 Lit mouth
- Proverbs 12:17 Lit breathes
- Proverbs 12:24 Lit slackness
- Proverbs 12:27 Lit slackness
- Proverbs 12:27 Or catch
Proverbs 12
New International Version
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.(A)
3 No one can be established through wickedness,
but the righteous cannot be uprooted.(D)
4 A wife of noble character(E) is her husband’s crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.(F)
5 The plans of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.(G)
8 A person is praised according to their prudence,
and one with a warped(J) mind is despised.
9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,(K)
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense.(L)
12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,(O)
and the work of their hands brings them reward.(P)
17 An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies.(V)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.(Y)
21 No harm overtakes the righteous,(Z)
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
24 Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in forced labor.(AF)
25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,(AG)
but a kind word cheers it up.
26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.(AH)
27 The lazy do not roast[a] any game,
but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
28 In the way of righteousness there is life;(AI)
along that path is immortality.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:27 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
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